CONTRASTING CLIQUES

IN THE EARLY YEARS OF THE LAST CENTURY, MEMBERS OF THE PRESS STREET GANG OF LONDON, A CIRCLE OF NAVAL EXPERTS (MAINLY MEN) BELIEVED THAT "THE THREE MOST BEAUTIFUL THINGS IN THE WORLD WERE A FIGHTING SHIP, A NUBILE WOMAN, AND A FAST RACEHORSE - IN THAT ORDER." THEIR PREFERRED ECSTASY WAS THE SIGHT OF A NEW BATTLESHIP, WITH POWERFUL ORDNANCE, CLEAVING THE SEA. SHE WAS THE HIGHEST EXPRESSION OF HUMAN ACHIEVEMENT.

CONTRAST THESE SENTIMENTS WITH THE THOSE OF THE CLIQUE OF INSANE DEVOTEES OF NCAA IN THESE EARLY YEARS OF THE 21ST CENTURY. IT IS ‘MARCH MADNESS’ TIME AGAIN, BUT NOT MADNESS OF THE UPLIFTING KIND. NO DOUBT EXISTS AS TO WHEREIN THE ECSTASY OF BOUNCE BALL ADDICTS RESIDES. AS A VICTIM OF BOTH SEA-SICKNESS (PUT PERMANENTLY INTO MY PAST) AND SHORTNESS (PERMANENTLY IN MY LIFE'S CONTINUUM), I CANNOT EMPATHIZE WITH EITHER A LOVE OF MARITIME CREATIONS OR AN INTEREST IN TALL MEN DUNKING A BALL. MY CONCERN, NEVERTHELESS, LIES WITH THE SERIOUS IMPLICATIONS THAT THE MARCH MADNESS HAS FOR AMERICA’S SUPERIORITY AT HOME OR ON THE HIGH SEAS. THE INANE, PERSONAL GRATIFICATIONS OF BASKETBALL MANIACS ARE SHALLOW ENOUGH TO RUN AGROUND.

THE PRESS STREET GANG POSSESSED A DEPTH OF APPRECIATION FOR POWER, BEAUTY AND SPEED. OH...NO... PERHAPS THESE SAME THREE ATTRIBUTES - POWER, BEAUTY AND SPEED - ARE SEEN BY BASKETBALL FANS TO APPLY TO THEIR FAVORITE SPORT. HOW SCARY CAN IT GET?